A giant sinkhole has destroyed a large part of a street in Baltimore, swallowing cars and forcing residents to evacuate their homes.

The area of the city, known locally as ‘Pastel Row’ because of the different coloured houses, sunk in about 15 seconds according to witnesses, who said it sounded like the rumble of a train.

Heavy rain and high winds over the last 24 hours in the Maryland city are thought to have been the cause, with the extreme weather already damaging railroad tracks and causing flooding throughout central parts of the state.